How to Fix Crawl Errors in Search Console : A Comprehensive Guide

How to fix crawl errors in Search Console is a crucial task for maintaining a healthy and well-performing website. Google Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools) is an invaluable resource for website owners, providing insights into how Google crawls and indexes your site. Crawl errors indicate problems that prevent Googlebot from accessing certain pages, negatively impacting your search ranking and overall visibility.

Understanding Crawl Errors in Search Console

Crawl errors occur when Googlebot, Google’s web crawler, encounters issues while trying to access URLs on your website. These errors are reported in the ‘Coverage’ report within Google Search Console. Identifying and fixing these errors is vital for ensuring that Google can properly index your site and that users can access all your content.

Types of Crawl Errors

Several types of crawl errors can appear in Search Console, each with different causes and solutions:

• Server Errors (5xx): These indicate problems with your web server, such as timeouts or internal server errors.
• 404 Errors (Not Found): These occur when a URL cannot be found on your server.
• Soft 404 Errors: These are pages that return a ‘success’ status code (200 OK) but have little or no content, leading Google to interpret them as non-existent.
• DNS Errors: These indicate problems with your domain name system (DNS), preventing Googlebot from resolving your domain name.
• Robots.txt Errors: These arise when there are issues with your robots.txt file, such as syntax errors or unintentionally blocking important pages.
• Redirect Errors: Problems with redirects, such as redirect chains or loops, can hinder crawling.

How to Identify Crawl Errors

To identify crawl errors, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Select your website property.
3. Navigate to the ‘Coverage’ report under the ‘Index’ section.
4. Review the ‘Error’ tab to see a list of crawl errors Google has encountered.

The report provides details about each error, including the affected URLs, the date the error was first detected, and the last time Google attempted to crawl the URL. Use the URL Inspection Tool to diagnose specific issues.

Fixing Common Crawl Errors

Now that you know searchenginejournal.com how to identify crawl errors, let’s explore how to fix some common ones:

Fixing 404 Errors (Not Found)

404 errors are among the most common crawl errors. Here’s how to address them:

• Identify the Source: Determine where Googlebot found the broken link. This could be from internal links on your site, external links from other websites, or outdated sitemap submissions.
• Implement a Redirect: If the page has moved to a new URL, implement a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one. This is the best solution for preserving link equity.
• Restore the Content: If the page was accidentally deleted, restore the content from a backup or recreate the page.
• Remove the Link: If the page is no longer relevant and won’t be restored, remove the broken link from your website. Contact external websites linking to the broken page and ask them to update their links.
• Create a Custom 404 Page: Ensure your 404 page provides helpful information and directs users to other relevant sections of your website.

Resolving Server Errors (5xx)

Server errors indicate problems on your web server. Here’s how to troubleshoot them:

• Check Server Logs: Examine your server logs to identify the specific cause of the errors. This could be due to overloaded resources, database issues, or software bugs.
• Contact Your Hosting Provider: If you’re unable to identify the cause, contact your hosting provider for assistance. They can often provide insights into server-side issues.
• Optimize Server Resources: Ensure your server has sufficient resources (CPU, memory, bandwidth) to handle the traffic to your website.
• Update Software: Keep your server software (e.g., Apache, Nginx, PHP) up to date to address security vulnerabilities and improve performance.

Addressing Soft 404 Errors

Soft 404 errors occur when a page returns a 200 OK status code but has insufficient content.

• Add Relevant Content: If the page should contain content, add meaningful and relevant information to the page.
• Implement a 404 Status Code: If the page is intentionally empty or no longer relevant, return a 404 or 410 (Gone) status code.
• Use the URL Inspection Tool: Use the URL Inspection Tool in Search Console to mark the page as a 404.

Fixing DNS Errors

DNS errors indicate problems with your domain name system. Here’s how to address them:

• Check DNS Configuration: Verify that your domain name is correctly configured with your hosting provider’s DNS servers.
• Contact Your Domain Registrar: If you’re unsure how to configure your DNS, contact your domain registrar for assistance.
• Check DNS Propagation: Ensure that DNS changes have propagated across the internet, which can take up to 48 hours.

Managing Robots.txt Errors

The robots.txt file controls which parts of your website Googlebot can crawl.

• Review Robots.txt File: Check your robots.txt file for syntax errors or unintentional blocking of important pages. Use the robots.txt tester in Search Console.
• Allow Crawling of Important Pages: Ensure that your robots.txt file allows Googlebot to crawl important pages, such as your homepage and product pages.
• Use Disallow Sparingly: Avoid using ‘Disallow’ directives unnecessarily, as this can prevent Google from indexing your content.

Resolving Redirect Errors

Redirect errors can occur due to redirect chains, redirect loops, or broken redirects.

• Avoid Redirect Chains: Minimize the number of redirects between URLs. Ideally, use a direct 301 redirect from the old URL to the final destination.
• Eliminate Redirect Loops: Ensure that redirects do not loop back to the same URL, creating an infinite loop.
• Verify Redirects: Use a redirect checker tool to verify that your redirects are working correctly.

Using the URL Inspection Tool

The URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console is a powerful resource for diagnosing crawl issues. It allows you to:

• Test Live URLs: Check if Google can access and render a specific URL.
• Request Indexing: Request Google to crawl and index a URL.
• View Crawl Details: See how Googlebot crawled the URL, including any errors encountered.

Submitting Sitemaps

Submitting a sitemap to Google Search Console helps Google discover and crawl all the important pages on your website.

• Create a Sitemap: Generate an XML sitemap that lists all the URLs you want Google to crawl.
• Submit Sitemap to Search Console: Submit your sitemap through the ‘Sitemaps’ report in Google Search Console.
• Monitor Sitemap Status: Regularly monitor the status of your sitemap to ensure that Google is processing it correctly.

Monitoring Crawl Errors Over Time

Regularly monitoring crawl errors in Search Console is crucial for maintaining a healthy website. Set a schedule to check the ‘Coverage’ report at least once a month. Promptly address any new errors that arise. Ignoring crawl errors can lead to a decline in search rankings and a poor user experience.

Mobile Usability Errors

In addition to crawl errors, Search Console also reports on mobile usability issues. These errors indicate problems that make your website difficult to use on mobile devices.

• Fix Mobile Usability Errors: Address any mobile usability errors reported in Search Console, such as content wider than screen, touch elements too close together, or small font size.
• Ensure Responsive Design: Implement a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes.
• Test on Mobile Devices: Regularly test your website on mobile devices to ensure a good user experience.

Indexed, but Not Submitted in Sitemap

This status means Google found the page but it’s not listed in your sitemap. While not an error, it’s worth investigating.

• Check Page Importance: Decide if the page is important enough to be in the sitemap.
• Add to Sitemap: If important, add the URL to your sitemap and resubmit it.
• No Action Needed: If the page isn’t vital, you may not need to take any action.

Duplicate Content

While not always flagged as a crawl error, duplicate content can affect how Google crawls and indexes your site.

• Identify Duplicate Content: Use tools to identify duplicate content on your website.
• Use Canonical Tags: Implement canonical tags to tell Google which version of a page is the preferred one.
• Implement 301 Redirects: Redirect duplicate pages to the preferred version.

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Conclusion

Fixing crawl errors in Search Console is an ongoing process. By regularly monitoring your website and addressing any issues that arise, you can ensure that Google can properly crawl and index your site, leading to improved search rankings and a better user experience. Understanding the different types of crawl errors, using the URL Inspection Tool, submitting sitemaps, and addressing mobile usability issues are all essential components of a successful SEO strategy. Addressing these issues ensures that your site is accessible and easily navigable for both search engines and users.